International students may return soon to region

The federal government is allowing international students to study in Canada this academic year at schools with approved COVID-19 readiness plans.

There's a growing list of designated learning institutions (DLIs) reopeningas of Tuesday.

Conestoga College, Wilfrid Laurier University and the University of Waterloo say they are waiting for the green light.

Chris Buuck, associate vice president of international education at Conestoga, said the college has already submitted its readiness plan, but the process of getting it approvedby government officials and stakeholders is lengthy.

"For our international students, for our college community, our broader community ... it's important to do it in a way that is safe," she said.

'Each step is important'

In an emailed statement to CBC News, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada said that the "government has taken a cautious approach, starting consultations with provinces and territories in July, including setting guidelines of what should be included in the COVID-19 readiness plans that each designated learning institution (DLI) needed to provide to their provincial/territorial government."

The plan requires schools to describe how they will manage a mandatory isolation period and support all of the needs of international students. In Ontario, the proposal then goes through the Ministry of Colleges and Universities, Ministry of Health and local public health units for review and feedback before approval.

"Each step is important," said Buuck, adding that the school hopes to welcome students beginning in January.

"We are thrilled," she said.

A representative at Wilfrid Laurier University told CBCKitchener-Waterloo in an emailed statement that the school hopes to get its plan approved as soon as possible.

"Wilfrid Laurier University's top priority is the health and safety of our students, employees, and the broader community. That's why, along with dozens of other universities and colleges in Ontario, we are working closely with the provincial government through their mandatory process to ensure that our detailed COVID-19 readiness plan for international students is approved as soon as possible," the statement read.

"We are very optimistic that our plan will be approved in the near future and that international students will have the option to safely move to the local community to study at Laurier."

A University of Waterloo spokesperson said in an emailed statement that "the government is reviewing the plan and we are optimistic that we will receive approval as soon as possible."

The government is advising studentsnot to make travel plans unless their school shows up on the DLI list, which will be updated regularly.